Nascar looking at redesiging cars for 2013

"NASCAR looking at new car design for 2013: NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series could take on a different look as early as 2013. While some manufacturers are considering model changes by then, all car makers are looking to maximize brand identity on the racetrack. That concept is equally appealing to race fans who feel the sanctioning body has veered far from the notion of a "stock" car. John Darby, Sprint Cup Series director, says the direction would "be real similar" to the style the Nationwide cars are adopting for next season. "The point we're at right now is trying to get feedback from all four manufacturers," Darby said. "The fact that, No. 1, that '13 is the right year to this as it aligns with new models, and secondly that there's interest from all four makes." Of course costs will be taken into the equation. Changes have to make economic sense to the teams as well, since the modifications would involve more than just a cosmetic tweak to noses and tails. NASCAR eliminated the rear wings earlier this year and implemented a nose job for the front ends for 2011, which replaces the awkward braces that attach the splitters to one sleek piece. Once the manufacturers agree on the concepts, Darby would expect to see designs submitted in August 2012. "As it says in the rule book, it all has to start with a July 1 date for any type of a body change on the car," Darby said. "Typically, and up to this point we've entertained and helped manufacturers with the front fascias, the rear tails. The '13 project could be a little larger than that to where we get more character lines in the hoods, more sculpture if you will to help the manufacturers identify their products a little closer."(Fox Sports)(10-26-2010)"

-www.jayski.com

So it looks to me that NASCAR will be veering more towards it's past with this. IM pretty excited about this.

I've heard about this too, but after reading it, this is much more than what I had expected. And just in time when Ford replaces the Fusion with the new Mustang.
__________________1997 Ford Taurus GL 214,000 miles and counting2013 Ford Taurus SEL 19,000 miles1989 Chrysler LeBaron 55,000 milesR.I.P Mercury and the Grand Marquis 1/4/11 @7:46 a.m.Ford Panther Platform: 1978-2011Broughams are meant for cruising the highway and the boulevard, not the quarter mile. Enjoying the ride, instead of getting it over with as soon as possible.

And how does this solve the issue? Maybe they should try lowing ticket prices if they want some fans back or maybe its just time to end it? Its just another style of racing that will never be what it was when started both good and bad.

If NASCAR would actually let the teams use modern engines instead of the old 4 barrel carb and 4 speed, I would be interested. Another nose job to bodies that all look the same just does less than nothing for me.
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Actually the reason NASCAR is losing fans isn't because of ticket prices, well that maybe a part of it, but the main reasons fans are leaving the sport was the fact that NASCAR went to the COT, they let Toyota, a foreign company into NASCAR, and the cars don't even look like their stock counter parts you can buy at the lots! It looks like NASCAR is working on the brand Identity though. Also to respond to westys_4_ever, supposedly they are working on making fuel injected engines to NASCAR, I don't know some people will like it, but I know there will be real NASCAR fans that won't be happy with that.

Safety and fairness are really the only to things keep them from using production car frames. Well I don't if letting a foreign company would start a lost in fans but another main issue would be the age of many of nascar's fans which would have to be over 40 years old by now. Not much hope in the young wanting to watch race cars go around a track now days.

rederfordfan:Actually the reason NASCAR is losing fans isn't because of ticket prices, well that maybe a part of it, but the main reasons fans are leaving the sport was the fact that NASCAR went to the COT, they let Toyota, a foreign company into NASCAR, and the cars don't even look like their stock counter parts you can buy at the lots! It looks like NASCAR is working on the brand Identity though. Also to respond to westys_4_ever, supposedly they are working on making fuel injected engines to NASCAR, I don't know some people will like it, but I know there will be real NASCAR fans that won't be happy with that.

FINALLY!

Now, if they could do something about having the same body running around the track...
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A BIG step in the right direction in my book.I'm not a fan of the one fit all look stock car they currently run that you have to look closely at the decals to see if its a Toyota, Dodge or Chevy.

What make me a big fan since I was a little kid was you could tell the cars by the shape. A Dodge Charger looked like a Charger, same for the Monte Carlo.Now its much more about the drivers than the car type and the car type was always a big part of the stock car attraction. You could relate to it as you might be driving a Charger to the track. Now you know the car is just an ad space with the manufactures decals on it.

I wasn't saying use production frames and literally use stock cars, I was refering to the fact that all the cars are basically cookie cutter cars you can't distinguish one brand from the other, as to why fans are leaving, and yeah they did lose a lot of fans and respect by allowing Toyota into the sport, believe me I used to post and read what NASCAR fans were posting on the forums on nascar's site, and there was alot of pissed of fans saying they will never go to another race or watch it on tv again after Toyota came in, and I was pretty pissed my self as well, but I will stay supporting the sport as long as there is 1 domestic car company in the sport! I'm only 22, turning 23 years old this coming up March so I'm a young fan and am a fan for at least a long while! Believe me their are young fans in NASCAR what do you think the NASCAR fans leave their kids home and go to the races by themselves?

You make a good point. But fairness still becomes an issue when redesigning one car may get more drag then another and so on. Nice to see one young person enjoying it but sadly your group is still smaller then that baby boomer group that started it so. Time will tell.

Well it would make the car companies involved make their cars as aerodynamic as possible so that they can try and get an advantage in the sport, which will benefit us consumers as well, because less drag means better fuel economy and performance!

But that would be unfair to the drivers where the real skill is at. Better fuel economy is starting with removing big engines and getting less power. You need displacement to run at 160+mph. This is racing not a lets try this see if it will make it to the end of the race. Those companies who sponsor this will drop like rocks if you move to that kind of system.